Historically, it is the site of Genoa-born New World discoverer Christopher Columbus’s (October 31, 1450? – May 20, 1506) first permanent settlement after landing on December 5, 1492. • Socio-economically, it offers world-respected fashions. • Traditionally, it outsources the Marian legend recreated in “A Gift of Gracias.”

Within Taino culture, Quisqueya, a name for the Dominican Republic, translates as "Mother Earth" or "Mother of All Lands." ~ Our Lady Mary is the patron saint of the Dominican Republic.

María appreciates life on her family’s finca (farm). Her parents are happy in their new homeland, the Dominican Republic, despite happy memories of pre-emigrant lifestyles in Valencia, Spain. They cultivate olives while regretting their homeland’s oranges. But soil and weather sometimes do not sustain the best of small-farming endeavors. Despite contrary assertions by family friend Quisqueya, Papá equates failed crops with city jobs. He and Quisqueya get a basket of oranges for one such urban opportunity. The sunrise-looking, sweet-tasting fruit gives María a refreshing but unusual night’s sleep despite an evening-long cry over her orange pit-filled bowl. María has dreams of:

A Gift of Gracias by Julia Alvarez ~ illustrated by Beatriz Vidal

After their olive crop fails, Maria fears that her family will have to abandon their farm on the new island colony. Then, one night she dreams of a mysterious beautiful lady shrouded by trees with branches hung with hundreds of little suns.

In the morning, María describes her dream. With her parents and Quisqueya, she gathers the seeds from the previous night’s feast. All four give thanks as they place each seed in the barren ground. Within months, not years, they have fruit-bearing, full-grown orange trees. Papá is happy with bounteous harvests to sell in city markets. But he and Quisqueya leave for home without finding any image of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia (Our Lady of High Thanks) for María. Our Lady nevertheless lets stars drop onto Quisqueya’s blanket during a stop homeward. Like Juan Diego and his rose-filled cape in Guadalupe, Mexico, Quisqueya opens his blanket at home to find Our Lady’s perfectly preserved image for María.